“People were talking a lot about him before the tournament and rightfully he had a lot of praise, but his hold-up play. When you play that nine and you are on your own up there, you have got to be get hold of the ball first and foremost.

“He was playing against two wily campaigners in (Sergei) Ignashevich and (Aleksei) Berezutski. They play together at club level. They are very well organised.

“For what they lack in pace and what they lack in youthful years, they make up for in experience and knowhow, and they absolutely schooled him.”

Against Russia on Saturday evening, Kane created two chances, had a pass accuracy of 71%, and won three headers and three dribbles. The Tottenham striker took shots, but neither of them was on target.

Kane’s performance against Russia was far from impressive, but it must also be noted that he did not get much service and support.

Subhankar Mondal

A football journalist based in Wakefield, Subhankar Mondal has previously worked for Goal.com International and Skysports.com, and has had his sports articles published in The Guardian and The Observer. He has also been on the BBC in the past and his name once found its way to the pages of the World Soccer magazine. He was recently cited in a major Louis van Gaal biography.